I am taking a break from house cleaning (throwing out all outdated stuff (flour beans cans etc). All year I have been giving away a lot of things as an attempt to simplify my daily living and eliminate the clutter and distractions in my life so I can devote more time to my study of the Word.
I usually do not get into these discussions about
Christmas but this year I have I am really more aware of futility of these discussions. This Sunday I listened to Kennedy expound on the need for Christians to stand up and take back Christmas and then listened to a Town Meeting show with various Theologians who argued in the other direction. I laughed at some of the nonsense they each side posited to support their view. As usual I was very saddened by the scriptural quotes that came from their own mouths that they may hear them replayed again at the Great throne.
I think Christmas is and will be like a lot of things ...another learning lesson for people. Since God has revealed some of His Truth to us we too now look at things differently
For the Christians they
think they are 'keeping' the
birth of Christ… when it is actually it is more likely the time of his
conception. Christ truly brought light into the world when it was physically the darkest. John the Babptist was the first earthly witness, though in utero. The prolifers will have egg on their face and the world church will too.
They think it righteous because they celebrate the birth, when the scriptures clearly show that only earthy kings had b-day parties and even then no good came out of them (ie salome’s dance etc). They cannot and will not believe that Christ is most interested in death.... (death to self and carnal things)
(Joh 6:63 KJVR)
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.They like all the glitter and decorations and gifts because they are carnal. It is not their fault that they are blind and deaf. Those of us who do not celebrate these things should not feel that they are doing a better thing because if it were not of God you would be right in the middle of all of the celebrating and covered in tinsle and drooling over all the gadgets and things.
I like what Joe said about the 24 / 7 Sabbath rest in Christ, we really need to stop acting like Peter and asking “what about that guy (John)? Christ laid it out… Never mind him…
you ...follow Me.
God put each of us into our unique worldly situation… like Paul we each need to focus on our own maturity and run the race. We are to enjoy our families and friends, we are "in" the world but we are no longer “of” the world. So let your light outshine those artificial ones and let you love overfloweth and overcome the sentimental gush.
I for one have put all of my treasured and gorgeous Christmas stuff to good use and have given them to people who are still living in the world. I have used up the last of my paper and ribbons and now will give gifts (all year) wrapped in whatever theme I decide .
Whenever I hear the Christmas songs movies etc I reflect on the Truth, that is often missing from them and truly enjoy the parts where it is present. On the other side I did excused my self during my office Christmas party because it was a totally carnal event.
When someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, If they are non believers .....I retort with a big smile ….”May God shine His light on you this year” because I truly want them to know what He has shown me and know that I cannot do this but that He can and will
If they are Christians who know me a little more...., I will say in response “My soul doth magnifies My Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior” There are so many other such verses that I use simply as a witness.
I no longer want to debate about issues that the other side is oblivious to. The clueless do not understand the spiritual.
(Mat 7:6 KJVR)
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.Dogs cannot eat this spiritual meat and you really p'd off the pigs because they cannot eat this truth either and they will only get upset with you.... Right now.... they are unlike the woman of Canaan who came from Tyre and Sidon to ask Jesus to heal her daughter…..they would be highly offended with this quote or remark. Since they are only doing what is natural ..... you still gotta love these dogs and pigs .....because God loves them
Beloved (that goes for us donkeys, bovines chickens etc)